DF95 Nationals coming to Sail Newport

Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, has been selected to host a unique national sailing event next year with the remote-controlled 2025 DragonFlite95 (DF95) US National Championship. The regatta will occur October 16-19 and will be the first radio-controlled national championship in Newport.

“The DF95 USA Executive Board is very excited to work with Sail Newport and Executive Director Brad Read for what we are sure will be the top destination radio sailing regatta of 2025. The DF95 USA class has evolved from fierce one-design racing into one of the most competitive and popular radio sailing fleets in the country,” says Chuck LeMahieu (McKinney, TX), member of the DF95 Executive Board and the U.S. DF95 distributor.

Organized by Sail Newport in association with The Newport Model Sailing Club (NMSC), the 2025 DF95 National Championship will gather 60 of the country’s top one-design radio control sailors. The DF95 Class sets a 60-boat maximum for their Nationals event, each skipper having qualified at various regional events around the U.S. The competition will be fierce as boats race in rotating flights, using the promotion/relegation scoring method.

“Our rigorous Nationals qualifying process is due to the popularity of the DF95 fleet across all regions of the USA. Newport, Rhode Island, is the heart of sailing in America, and we are proud to have this legendary venue host the most actively sailed radio sailing class in the USA,” LeMahieu adds.

Depending on wind direction, the 95cm model boats will race off Sail Newport in Fort Adams State Park close to shore or nearby, providing prime spectating opportunities.

Every region of the U.S. will be represented by competitors, and organizers will also invite international competitors. The age of sailors ranges from 16 to 90 years old.

Sailors to watch at the 2025 nationals include two-time defending DF95 USA National Champion Peter Feldman (Harrison Township, MI), who is fresh off his top-five finish at the International One Metre (IOM) worlds. Peter also recently won the prestigious Jack Brown Trophy, sailing a DF95 at last year’s U.S. Sailing Championship of Champions regatta.

Other top-ranked DF95 skippers will likely include previous DF95 USA National Champions Mark Golison (Long Beach, CA) and Dennis Rogers (San Diego, CA), Steve Landeau (Pooler, GA), Sean Fidler(Brighton, MI), Tony Gonsalves (Hollywood, FL), and Ken Read (Portsmouth, RI), who have finished in the top five of previous DF95 Nationals and IOM USA Nationals.

The DF95 is the fastest-growing radio-controlled one-design sailboat in the world. Sail Newport is proud to have helped the growth of the class with nearly 100 boats sold in the Newport area since 2020. The NMSC was born out of the 2020 pandemic and quickly grown. On any given weekend in the winter, between ten and 25 avid “thumb sailors” are at Sail Newport competing on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

“This type of racing is a blast. It keeps you sharp for the other kinds of sailboats you race! I have had the pleasure of going to a few DF95 events, including a national championship, and the competition is unbelievable,” says Brad Read, Sail Newport’s executive director.

“We look forward to welcoming the DF95 sailors from around the country to Newport and Sail Newport,” Read adds.

The DragonFlite 95 Class started in 2016, designed by John Tushingham, Buzz Coleman, and Mark Dicks. Manufactured by Joysway Hobby, the boat has quickly become incredibly popular due to its high performance, modern design features, and sailing qualities, combined with a low-cost entry point and wide availability.

The American Model Yachting Association and U.S. Sailing both recognize the DF95 Sailing Class. World Sailing governs radio sailing regattas, which race under the Standard Racing Rules of Sailing, like all other sailing sailboat classes. Appendix E governs radio sailboats.

Dragon Sailing: https://radiosailing.net/

Newport Model Sailing Club: https://newportmodelsailingclub.org/

Sail Newport: https://sailnewport.org/calendar/2025-df95-national-championship/

Source: Sail Newport